Waterline breaks

Waterline breaks EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine High School and middle school are closed today because of a waterline break on Thomas Street between the high school and the football field concession stand. The line was to be repaired by midday today, and the schools are expected to reopen Wednesday. Vandalism at park LEETONIA -- Police are investigating vandalism that occurred over the weekend at the restroom at Cherry Valley Coke Ovens park. Police said vandals broke door handles and windows with a brick and damaged toilets. Handgun stolen SALEM -- Someone stole a 9mm handgun from a residence on the 400 block of South Broadway Avenue, police report. The theft occurred between Thursday and Monday about 11 a.m., police said. There was no sign of forced entry. The gun was worth about $300. Prisoner escapes NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle police are searching for a Youngstown man who escaped from them. Sean Rushton, 30, of Ayers Street faces charges of possession of drugs with intent to deliver, resisting arrest, aggravated assault and escaping police custody. Police said they arrested Rushton after he was pulled over for a traffic violation at 9:23 a.m. Saturday on Liberty Street and they discovered there was a warrant for his arrest in another traffic matter. When police took Rushton to the police department to wait for arraignment before a district magistrate, they found packets of suspected heroin on him. They said he refused to go into a jail cell and slumped to the floor. An officer dragged Rushton into the cell, where he stood up and rushed the officer, police said. The officer pushed him back into the cell, where he fell against a wall near a metal sink and cot, police said. He appeared to be unconscious, and officers called an ambulance to take him to St. Francis Hospital, police said. Authorities said that Rushton was under arrest but that he left the hospital about 4:30 a.m. Sunday with the help of others. Sharon street to close SHARON, Pa. -- East State Street will be closed to through traffic for most of the day Thursday as the city prepares for its annual Light Up Night celebration to mark the holiday season. The street will be closed at 8:30 a.m. from Water Avenue to Shenango Avenue and then from Water Avenue to Chestnut Avenue at 3:30 p.m. It will be closed briefly from Water Avenue to Oakland Avenue for a parade at 6:45 p.m. Shoe store robbed SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a man who said he had a gun in his pocket took a small amount of cash from the Payless ShoeSource store at 1138 E. State St., around 5:20 p.m. Monday. A store clerk said the man walked in and at first said he was looking for a pair of shoes for his wife but then said he had a gun in his pants pocket and ordered her to open the cash register. She did, and he grabbed money and ran out of the store, south along White Avenue. He was described as a light-skinned black man in his early 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He wore baggy khaki cargo pants and a blue-jean jacket. County's most wanted NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Photographs of Lawrence County's most wanted fugitives will be featured on Adelphia Cable channel 10. District Attorney Matthew Mangino will be the host of the program, which will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The monthly program will return next month with a new list of fugitive suspects. The November program will also feature an interview with Patricia Weaver, executive director of A Hand to Hold, a program that protects abandoned newborns. Youngstown man shot YOUNGSTOWN -- A 31-year-old man was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center for a bullet wound he suffered Monday morning at Market Street and Boston Avenue. Anthony H. Brock, of Wilmette Lane, was shot once in the back at 8:35 a.m., and the bullet came out his right shoulder.